Opal
October’s birthstone is the Opal, symbolizing hope, innocence and fidelity. Derived from the Latin word “Aplaus” meaning tender. Legend states Opals will sharpen your mind and emotions. Roman believed Opals to be the King of all gemstones because of the many colours contained within the gem.
Birthstone
October
Colour
Most commonly occurs in white, while black is the rarest
Hardness
5.5-6.5 (1 softest – 10 hardest)
Care
Opal hardness is variable depending on its exact composition and formation conditions and ranges from 5 to 6.5 on the Mohs scale. Its toughness is very poor to fair, making opal a gem that is suitable for jewellery but requires care when wearing so as to not scratch or break the stone.
Cleaning
The only safe way to clean opal is with warm, soapy water.
Famous Opals
The Aurora Australis was found in New South Wales in 1938. It weighs 180 carats and is valued at over a million dollars.
The Andamooka Opal was presented to Queen Elizabeth II in 1954 for her first visit to Southern Australia. This opal weighs 203 carats and has a stunning array of reds, blues and greens
Known Treatments
Oil, plastics, hardeners and colourless wax are all used to improve the appearance and durability of opals.